Chapter 339: house party IX

Chapter 339: Chapter 339: house party IX

Christopher was still in his room when he sent his last message to Vivienne.

He looked at the screen for a moment.

Then he put his phone down.

A few seconds later, his phone rang.

Marcus.

Christopher answered.

"Are you ready?"

Christopher glanced toward the clock.

"Yeah."

"We’re at the lobby."

"Alright. I’ll head there now."

He slipped his phone into his pocket, grabbed his jacket, and left his room.

By the time he reached the lobby, Marcus, Enzo, Roger, Gregory, and Nigel were already waiting.

Marcus looked at him, almost teasing.

"Looking good, Archibald. So..."

Christopher looked over.

"What made you decide to join us tonight?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

Marcus laughed.

"Does it have something to do with that someone you met last night?"

Christopher didn’t say anything, but the slight curve of his lips was telling enough.

Enzo immediately laughed.

"Oh."

Roger looked at him.

"Wait."

Nigel smiled.

"You’re actually seeing someone."

Christopher shook his head, smiling.

"Let’s just go."

"That means yes," Marcus said.

"Obviously," Gregory added.

Christopher didn’t bother denying it.

They left the residence hall and walked toward William’s house.

After a moment, Marcus asked,

"So you’re dating someone and joining us tonight. You meeting her there?"

Christopher sighed.

The others moved on, but Marcus was just too much of a gossip for a guy.

And knowing him, he wouldn’t stop until he found out.

"I’m just going to take a look."

Marcus’ left brow rose.

"Lying low? Who is it? Anyone from our department?"

Christopher shook his head.

"You’ll find out eventually."

Marcus stared at him.

"That is not an answer."

Christopher only smiled.

He wasn’t trying to hide anything.

It was just that tonight, she was at the party with her friends.

And knowing Marcus, once he knew, he would definitely approach uninvited.

So he kept it to himself.

For now.

—

By the time they reached William’s house, the party was already well underway.

Several students recognized Christopher almost immediately.

A few greeted him as he entered.

"Archibald."

"Christopher."

"Good to see you."

He stopped when necessary.

Shook hands.

Exchanged a few words.

Nothing unusual.

Christopher knew what these parties were like.

Political Governance students were not exactly known for attending social gatherings purely for the sake of drinking and having fun.

Connections mattered.

Who you knew mattered.

Who your family knew mattered.

And Christopher was, unfortunately, someone many people wanted to know and get close to.

He didn’t take it personally.

He simply understood it.

So he let the conversations happen.

He answered politely.

He listened.

He smiled when appropriate.

But even while doing that—

He was looking for her.

Not obviously.

He simply glanced around whenever the conversation allowed it.

He knew she was here.

He just hadn’t seen her yet.

Every now and then, his eyes moved through the room.

Then someone stopped him again.

"Archibald, have you met—"

Christopher turned back toward the person speaking.

He listened.

Answered.

Smiled.

A few moments later, another person joined the conversation.

Then another.

Marcus watched it happen with amusement.

"You’re going to be here all night."

Christopher smiled.

"Probably."

Someone else stopped them.

Christopher remained polite.

He didn’t mind.

This was what he had expected.

Still, somewhere in the back of his mind, he was aware that Vivienne was somewhere in the room.

Then, as Marcus said something to the other guy, Christopher turned to his right.

And that was when their eyes met.

Vivienne was already looking at him.

She was smiling so brightly that there was no mistaking how genuinely delighted she was to see him.

Christopher paused for a moment.

Then his lips curved upward.

She was happy to see him.

He was happy to see her too.

"Archibald?"

The voice pulled him back.

Christopher looked toward the person speaking.

"Sorry."

He returned his attention to the conversation.

But his smile lingered.

And as he listened, his thoughts briefly returned to Vivienne.

The sweater dress.

The soft oatmeal color.

The long sleeves.

Comfortable, just as he had suggested.

Apparently, she had listened.

He found that mildly amusing.

And it suited her.

He turned his attention fully back to the conversation.

For the next few moments, he listened and responded normally.

--

(Damian POV)

Damian was standing right beside Vivienne.

Only a moment ago, they had been talking.

Then someone announced that Christopher was there.

Vivienne turned with everyone else.

And Damian saw her expression change.

Immediately.

Her eyes found Christopher.

Her face brightened.

And then she smiled.

Damian knew that smile.

He had seen it whenever Vivienne looked at Anthony.

That same look.

That same sudden brightness in her eyes.

The way her attention simply—

left everything else.

Including him.

Damian stood beside her.

She knew he was there.

They had been speaking only moments ago.

And yet, the moment she saw Christopher, it was as though Damian had ceased to exist.

At this point, he should have expected it.

It wasn’t the first time.

He remembered the pool party.

The way Vivienne had deliberately drawn him close when Anthony was watching.

The way she had used their closeness to make a point without even considering what he felt.

Then this morning, she had said nothing about Christopher.

She lied to him, telling him that she’s not feeling well.

Then the day continued. His friends saw her with Christopher and she should have thought they might tell him about it. But, she never contacted him.

She hadn’t even thought of explaining.

Perhaps, she might have thought that his friend had not told him.

But still, she hadn’t even given him the courtesy of telling him whatbshe decided before he found out himself.

And now—

Here they were.

Damian was standing beside her.

And she was looking at Christopher as though no one else in the room mattered.

That was what hurt.

Not that she was happy to see him.

Not even that she was in love with someone else.

It was that Vivienne didn’t seem to think about what this looked like from where Damian was standing.

She didn’t seem to consider him at all.

Just as she hadn’t at the pool party.

Just as she hadn’t that morning.

And perhaps that was the part Damian had been refusing to admit.

He cared about her enough to overlook almost anything.

He had been doing it for days.

He could forgive the lie.

He could forgive the fact that she hadn’t told him.

Because he wanted her.

Because he was still crazy enough to want her.

But now, watching her smile at Christopher while standing right beside him—

It felt like a slap to the face.

--

Tbc